doi:10.1016/j.ejpe.2016.05.013

Currently, fossil fuels are used in diesel engines and are essential in industrialized areas. However, the use of petroleum-based diesel increases environmental pollution. To solve this worldwide problem, transesterified vegetable oil grown in set-aside land can serve as a renewable energy resource. In this study, the kinetic transesterification of Thevetia peruviana oil with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (molar ratio 1:4) was investigated. The experiments were conducted by varying the kinetic parameters, such as the amount of the prepared CH3OK alkali catalyst, stirring rate, reaction temperature and time, to determine the optimal kinetic conditions. The transesterification of T. peruviana oil to DMC-esters (DMC-TP-BioDs) proceeds by a first-order mechanism. The corresponding values of the activation energies and rate constants were determined. The maximum yield of 97.50% was obtained for the transesterification of T. peruviana oil within 90 min at 85 °C at an agitation speed of 200 rpm.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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